Why We Choose Organic Every Time

“Papa, dis food is o-ganic?”

She doesn’t truly understand what we mean when we say organic, or organically grown, but she knows that to our family, there is a distinction.

If there’s a choice, we go for the organic. Even better is locally grown. The farmers market is one of our primary food sources, we have a share in a CSA, and the rest we get at our local co-op.

We might pay more, but we’re OK with that. Here’s why:

The pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming are too new to be declared safe.

The results aren’t in. Most of the chemicals and fertilizers in use now were introduced after WW II, during the industrialization of farming. We don’t know yet what the effects are on humans, because there’s been only three generations since then. And our health isn’t getting better.

Everything flows downstream.

Clean water is probably our most valuable resource. We can’t live without it. We can’t grow food without it. Nearly every substance applied to the plants or the soil ends up in the water, either in the water table or in rivers and lakes. Not good. Again, we don’t fully know the effects. Supporting organic agriculture helps keep some of that contamination at bay.

Our kids deserve the best.

We are what we eat. I believe in the superior quality of organically grown food. I think it tastes better, and I think it’s better for us and the environment. I want my children to have the best. They can eat junk when they grow up.

Buying direct from an organic farmer is a vote for clean food.

I overheard someone at the farmers market complaining about prices. She wanted high quality freshly picked produce, but wasn’t willing to pay what the grower needed to charge to make a living. The relationship that we have with our favorite growers is one built on trust. We trust them to feed us with clean food. We trust them to steward the soil and the water. Why shouldn’t they get a living wage?

Buying organic food is our health insurance.

I don’t have insurance. Even if we could afford it, I wouldn’t buy health insurance. I’d rather insure my family’s health by giving them the best (see above). We believe that good health comes from being active and eating nutritious food. The rest is up to nature.

Choosing organic doesn’t have to break your budget. We don’t eat out very often, because we know that we can make a better meal at home for less money, and we have more control over the content of our food. It will always be cheaper to prepare your own meals. We buy in bulk and we buy in season. We garden. We buy seconds at the market.

I was watching Supperclub on Planet Green last night one of the guests was talking about how the way to really get the green movement started is by teaching this to our children, both at home and in schools. He also mentioned the ideals they learn gets ingrained immediately and they can apply it almost instantly, even at very young ages. Your child is a testament to that fact. You’re a hero for that reason alone.

I had the same experience with my son at 3 years old — very cool to hear your story. Creating awareness in our kids at an early age about what they put in their bodies and where it comes from (and what was added to it) is the key to empowering them to make healthy choices in their futures. Amazing how naturally curious, and understanding children are about these things!

Yes, it can…and does. One of our Shaping Youth pals working on this food front is Mike Axinn at DOOF http://www.food backwards.com who is trying to create a ‘trackback’ so to speak to teach kids early on ‘where food comes from’ so they don’t grow up thinking chow lands onto the plate shrink-wrapped in a tub-o-nukability. Gotta love that.

p.s. Your tomatoes are making me hungry. And of ALL fruit/veggies those are ones to buy local/organic, n’est ce pas?

Hi there. I ran across you on mybloglog and then went over to stumble. Thank you for this website and for recommending other great environmental websites out there. If there were more people out there like us, then this world would be a much better place for us and our children.

I’m really enjoying the content of you’re site and will be spending some more time here.

There is another good reason to eat only organic produce, it’s been scientifically proven to contain more nutrients in it compared to conventionally grown produce. You really are getting more bang for your buck by eating organic! I wrote about the study here: http://tinyurl.com/p22bmz

I found two things wrong with this article, items of absolute ridiculousness:

1. I’m so glad you can afford to pay more. I guess your kids deserve the best but the children of the unemployed or underemployed dont? Shouldn’t food banks be organic only too? Everyone cannot afford to buy organic, even lower middle class families. Some of those parents have to work 45 hours and commute another 10. I buy everything I can organic also, but its precisely because I can afford the TIME to buy in bulk, can and bottle, etc that I am financially able to do this.

2. I’m sorry that you don’t have or want health insurance. I insure my family’s health with good-for-them and good-for-the-earth foods but I can’t afford a hospital bill if there’s an accident or my daughter’s appendix bursts. If you can’t either, you’ll pass those costs onto the hospital, the state and the taxpayers. That’s responsible?

You know, ever since I started eating nothing but organic products, I have been feeling so much better…and I know I am doing right by my body. We are not meant to inject so many chemicals and toxins everytime we eat something. I love this site, thanks for saying how important organic is…because it is!

Also, whenever you can, you should REALLY support your local farmers at the farmer’s markets. The prices are great, and the food is the freshest, and healthiest you will find!

I got into it at 1st when a Whole Foods market moved into the neighborhood, then Trader Joes came…and I was hooked. I heard that local farmers got together in 5 areas local to my home every week…so that is something I want to start doing now too. I think organic is MUCH better for our bodies, of course, but it also has a richer, crisper, more delicious flavor…like it was always MEANT to have…

I think pesticides rob the food of its flavor in a lot of ways. Get your kids used to it when they are young, and they will love it too.

[…] personal preference. You will need to experiment to find your perfect balance. Of course, use organic and local ingredients whenever possible (and Fair Trade when it’s not). Here are some guidelines to […]

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About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.